RIDING THE CREST McLean family’s reputation allows Crestwood Farm to survive tough times BY LENNY SHULMAN PHOTOS BY ANNE M. EBERHARDT ust outside Lexington, where the roads become two-­lane affairs and the industrial parks give way to rolling hills of bluegrass fenced in by wood panel fencing to corral horses, tiny Spurr Road Jshoots off at a right angle from another country lane, bisecting a couple of mega horse farms. To the south is Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms, a thriving enterprise maintained by Canadian expatriate John Sikura. To the north, a forlorn real estate sign is affixed to the horse fencing, inside of which one is hard pressed to find any horses. The property was most recently Vinery, an operation well on its way out of business, its stallions shipped off to WinStar Farm to stand the 2013 season. Be-­ fore being bought by Dr. Tom Simon, the land belonged to investor Ken Jones for about a decade. Prior to Jones, the farm was developed by Franklin Groves into North View Farm, a leading breeding operation. Groves bought the place from Ann Trimble, who bred The Bart, the runner famously nosed out by John Henry in the inaugural Arlington Million. Before Trimble, a fellow named Tom Piatt and his family owned hundreds of acres on and around the site. Through all those comings and goings, and remaining to this day, is Pope McLean Sr. and his family’s Crestwood Farm, which sits just east of the for-­ mer Vinery. McLean bought his farm from the Piatt family some 40 years ago, and while bulldozers have carved out fancy facilities on the neighboring land as owners have come and gone, Crestwood stands tall as a symbol of stability and continuity, immune to the big eyes and grand plans that have burned brightly and flamed out around it. Surviving in the middle-­market that has taken a giant hit over the past five years of recession and tightening credit, Crestwood still breathes because service and honesty never go out of style. Because when you treat people the right way, they will stay loyal through good times and bad. Because reputation, thankfully, still matters. “You are either honest or you’re not,” stated Pope McLean Sr., the 75-­year-­old silver-­haired patriarch who today happily works alongside sons Marc and Pope Jr. and daughter Grandison on two separate 500-­acre tracts nearby one another. “Over the years people have come to realize that we are looking out for their best interest and not trying to take advantage of them. We’d rather be helpful and establish long-­term relationships than look for the quick buck. Some folks don’t Mares graze over hundreds of Crestwood Farm acres; have that tendency to look toward tomorrow.” inset, Pope McLean Sr., second from right, with sons Marc, left, and Pope Jr., and daughter Grandison Offutt 30 / BloodHorse.com / APRIL 13, 2013 Copyright©2013, The Blood-Horse. Reprinted with permission of copyright owner. Copyright©2013, The Blood-Horse. Reprinted with permission of copyright owner. BloodHorse.com / APRIL 13, 2013 / 31 RIDING THE CREST The word “honest” comes up time and to date with Storm Cat’s son Storm Boot, year, some for clients exclusively interest-­ have a solid group of local breeders plus again, not just from the McLean clan but, and with Petionville. Most recently, the ed in racing, others that they will raise and people that come in from other states.” more importantly, from the farm’s -­ long McLeans sold Goldencents, winner of prep for weanling or yearling auctions. A look at the number of Central Ken-­ time clients. this year’s Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) and Those mares owned by Crestwood tend tucky farms in the real estate listings “They are the nicest, most honest peo-­ a leading Kentucky Derby Presented by to be older, solid producers or young ones these days tells you that mere survival ple in a business that sometimes doesn’t Yum! Brands (gr .I) contender. off to good starts. The farm isn’t playing in over the past five years has not been easy. have nice and honest folks,” stated Bill A significant addition to the farm came the seven-­figure range. But they do board A combination of dedicated clientele, re-­ Schiffman, a certified public accountant in 1991, when Pope McLean Jr. and Marc Air France for Brian Burns. She has pro-­ sourcefulness, and the ability to function and investment adviser in Columbus, McLean joined their father at Crestwood. duced Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! on a lean budget have been essential for Ohio, who has been doing business at Having grown up on the farm, they be-­ Brands (gr. I) runner Smooth Air and continuing operations. Crestwood has Crestwood for more than a decade. “It’s came immersed in the Thoroughbred cul-­ Overdriven, a grade II winner now stand-­ reduced staff (now at 20), grown more their horsemanship, integrity, and people ture, and as kids were pulled out of school ing at Ocala Stud. Crestwood also boards of its own feed, culled mares, sought out skills. Integrity is an enormously impor-­ to help with the farm’s consignments at Union Flag, a half sister to Withers Stakes new customers, and its principals have tant thing in this business and difficult to sales. Pope Jr., 47, is three years older than (gr. III) and Louisiana Derby (gr. II) win-­ chipped in doing extra work. find. I’ve been in racing since 1980, and Marc, and worked a couple of years as a ner and current Derby contender Revolu-­ Oh, and their contrarian father has it’s not easy finding people you can trust. Crestwood Farm and its facilities have stood the test of time stockbroker after college before coming tionary who is about to have her first foal. been making moves as well. They are just a lovely, classy family.” home to Crestwood, handling the busi-­ And it owns Mischievious, a Brian D. Burns has done business with with the McLeans, ended up buying the He co-­bred Random Shot, who won the ness end of the operation. Marc always half sister to French group Crestwood since he retired his first run-­ mare, and was impressed enough to leave 1967 Clark Handicap for James Cowden saw himself as a hands-­on horseman III winner What a Name and ner, multiple graded stakes winner The her on the farm. He’s had 10 mares there Sr., who owned Poplar Hill Farm next to and, after graduating UK, now serves as millionaire Diabolical. Name’s Jimmy, to Crestwood in 1995. He over the past decade. McLean’s father’s farm. McLean leased farm manager. Their sister, Grandison Crestwood boasts a ros-­ has had as many as 47 broodmares on the “What I appreciate the most is they’re 100 acres of Poplar Hill and then, in 1970, Offutt, puts in several days a week in the ter of promising young sires farm, a number reduced to 12 after the very up-­front, direct, and honest, and he and his wife, Betty Ann, leased-­ Crest office keeping Crestwood computerized. that all stand for $5,000. financial crisis. But Burns, an insurance in this business, that’s important,” said wood Farm, which they would buy four This infusion of family—all three of the By Albert the Great, Nobiz executive who races in the name of Mount Johnson, who raced the five-­time grade years later. McLean men live on the farm—is un-­ Like Shobiz’ first crop just Joy Stables, is thankful for having found I-­winning Better Talk Now ($4.3 million “I think I was driven more by fear of doubtedly one of the reasons Crestwood turned 3, and his Let Me the McLean family. earner). “They work hard and try hard failure than desire to succeed,” McLean has been able to ride out tough times. Entertain U is a 2013 stakes “This is a tough game, particularly if and always respond to every query. They said with a chuckle about his early years “It’s part of your life, your pride, and winner. Tizdejavu (Tiznow) you’re new in it,” he said. “Having good, are honest and good people.” in the horse business. “I was determined, how you define yourself,” Pope Jr. stated has yearlings now;; his quality people around you makes it very So there are the reviews. But no matter but the first years were long and hard. It of the farm. “It’s a labor of love out here weanlings sold well last year rewarding, and they’ve been spectacular. how respected the McLeans are, and even took me 10 years to outgrow my parents’ that’s in our blood. All three of us kids to a range of solid horsemen. Our families have grown very close, and though Crestwood is standing promis-­ 20-­acre farm. I foaled mares at night and would foal-­watch from a very early age, Country Day (Speights-­ it’s gone far beyond a business relation-­ ing and well-­bred commercial stallions worked all day. I did have a passion and giving a full-­time person an occasional town) and Get Stormy ship. It’s their honesty.” Country Day, Get Stormy, and Nobiz love for animals. So I thought if I could night off.” (Stormy Atlantic) are cov-­ A decade ago Brent Johnson, an in-­ Like Shobiz, it is still a difficult climate make a living doing something I love, you The family patriarch is delighted to ering their first mares this vestment adviser based in Virginia, had for horses at that $5,000 stud fee level.